Sarla Maheshwari, former Doordarshan news reader, passes away at 71

Former Doordarshan news reader Sarla Maheshwari, one of the most well-known faces of TV news in the 1980s and 1990s, died in Delhi on Thursday, February 12, 2026, family friend Shammi Narang said. He was 71 years old.

Maheshwari, who served as a newsreader for Doordarshan from 1976 to 2005, was among the pioneers of TV news in India at a time when broadcasting was limited to a few hours throughout the day.

Narang, who is Maheshwari’s co-host, also announced the news by posting on X and Instagram.

“I am deeply saddened to announce the sad demise of my former associate news anchor on Doordarshan, Sarala Maheshwari,” Narang said.

He remembered Maheshwari as “the embodiment of grace and kindness”.

“I am deeply saddened to announce the sad demise of my former co-anchor on Doordarshan, Sarala Maheshwari… She was beautiful not only in appearance but more importantly, in essence, had an extraordinary command of language and was a wealth of knowledge. Her presence on the Doordarshan screen had a unique aura. She respected everyone and brought joy to every sphere she was a part of,” he wrote on the social media platform.

His last rites will be performed at Nigam Bodh Ghat at 4 pm.

According to reports, Maheshwari joined the public broadcaster after completing her PhD from Delhi University. In a career spanning three decades, Maheshwari has witnessed the transition of television news from black and white to color broadcasting.

In a post on ‘X’, Doordarshan National said, “A heartfelt tribute from the Doordarshan family to Smt. Sarla Maheshwari. She was a respected and valued news anchor of Doordarshan who carved a special place in the Indian news world with her gentle voice, impeccable pronunciation and dignified delivery. Her simplicity, moderation and personality created deep trust in the hearts of the audience.” he said.